Cardio and Digestive Herbs Cont.

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Cardio and Digestive Herbs Cont.

• Chamomile, Horse chestnut, Licorice, Spices

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Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Actions Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, sedative,
  antispasmodic.
• Medicinal Uses Gastrointestinal disorders.
  Calming and sedative effect general relaxation.
  Childrens cold, eye wash, skin treatment.
• Side effects low
• Dose 1-3 teaspoon decoction
• tincture 1-4 ml in a cup water
• oil1-2 drop (150 dilution)

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Chemistry, Functions, Toxicity

• Volatile oils a-bisabolol, chamazulene, (?
  inflammation, fever)
• flavonoids apeginin, luteolin, quercetin
  (inflammation, sedative, antioxidant)
• CNS action is through benzodiazepine receptors
• Orally used to treat diarrhea, anxiety,
  restlessness, flatulence , teas mainly used for
  sedation or relaxation.
• Topically reduce inflammation, induce healing of
  wounds and burns
• Toxicity contact dermatitis, allergic reactions
• GI nausea, vomiting
• Anaphylaxis in case of extreme sensitivity

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Herb Drug Interaction

• Antiplatelet and anticoagulants (warfarin,
  aspirin, heparin, NSAIDs, clopidogrel,
  eptifibatide, tirofiban, ticlopidine,
  dipyridamole and COX-2 inhibitors

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Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

• Traditionally used for chronic venous
  insufficiency (CVI). Other properties analgesic,
  anticoagulant, astringent and expectorant.
• The medicinal parts of horse chestnut include the
  dried leaves, the oil extracted from the peeled
  nuts, and the dried chestnut seeds.
• The seeds of horse chestnut contain a saponin
  mixture aescin (or escin) and prosapogenin.
• Other compounds rutin and quercitrin and
  coumarins.
• The extract is used as conjunctive treatments for
  lymphedema, hemorrhoids, BPH.
• Dose 250mg (high dose up to 750mg, tincture
  1-4ml

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Functions

• The 3 types of pharmacodynamic actions that have
  been attributed to escin include anti-edematous
  properties, anti-inflammatory activities, and
  venotonic properties.
• Aescin works on the capillary membrane,
  normalizing vascular permeability. This then may
  reduce the outflow of fluid into the
  extracapillary space.
• Anti-inflammatory properties suggest that escin
  can interfere with the cellular phase of the
  inflammatory process, i.e. with leukocyte
  activation. The accumulation of leukocytes in
  CVI-affected limbs with their subsequent
  activation is considered an important
  patho-physiological mechanism of CVI.

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Herb Drug Interaction

• Anticoagulants may increase anticoagulant effect
• Antidiabetic, insulin Increased hypoglycemic
  effect
• Drugs that are highly protein bound Aescin binds
  to plasma proteins and may displace these drugs.
• Potential synergetic effect with other
  anticoagulant and hypoglycemic herbs.

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Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra )

• Traditionally used for peptic ulcer,
  additionally antiviral, anti-inflammatory,
  antitussive, and additive in many formulations.
• Licorice root contains water-soluble triterpenoid
  glycoside glycyrrhizin, isoflavans hispaglabrin A
  and B, glabridin and other phenolic constituents.
• Commonly used as a sweetening/flavoring agent to
  counteract the unpleasant taste of many drugs
• Dosage 200 mg glycyrrhizin daily

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Functions, Toxicity

• Glycyrrhizin is a sweetener, used by the
  food/drug industry
• Glycyrrhetenic acid inhibits 11-beta-hydroxydehydr
  ogenase that prevent cortisol from acting as a
  mineralcoid. ( leading to sodium and water
  retention and potassium excretion)
• Toxicity CNS numbness, paralysis
• CV hypertension, arrhytmias, heart failure
• metabolic hypokalemia, hypernatremia
• musculoskeletal myopathy, muscle cramps

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Herb Drug Interaction

• Antiarrhytmics Hypokalemia, Torsades de Pointes
• Antihypertensives less effective
• Corticosteroids additive effect
• Digoxin increased toxicity
• Diuretics may worsen hypokalemia